American Family Children's Hospital Ranked in U.S. News Top 50

Madison, Wisconsin - For the first time ever, American Family Children's Hospital is ranked among the top 50 children's hospitals in U.S. News and World Report's 2011-12 Best Children's Hospitals Guide.

American Family Children's Hospital ranked in the top 50 in seven medical specialties, including:

"Our vision was to become one of the best and safest children's hospitals in the United States," said Jeff Poltawsky, vice president of American Family Children's Hospital. "With our dedicated staff and physicians, we have created a center of pediatric excellence and a culture of patient and family-centered care."

"It is very gratifying that the outstanding efforts and commitment of our faculty and all of the health care providers in our hospital have been recognized," said Dr. Ellen Wald, department of pediatrics chair at American Family Children's Hospital. "We will work even harder in the future to build on this accomplishment."

Rankings were based on surveys of 177 children's hospitals across the country. The survey asked hundreds of questions concerning survival rates, nurse staffing, sub-specialist availability and other critical information difficult for those in charge of a child's care to find on their own. This is only the fifth such survey US News has done for children's hospitals.

The data from the survey were combined with recommendations from pediatric specialists on the hospitals they consider best for children with challenging problems.

The 61-bed American Family Children's Hospital opened in August 2007 and offers a unique, comforting setting that aims to enhance the healing process for patients and their families.

American Family Children's Hospital is part of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, which has also been ranked by U.S. News and World Report every year since 1993 and has been the recipient of several national safety and quality recognition honors.

"The entire community came together to make American Family Children's Hospital a reality," said Donna Katen-Bahensky, CEO of University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. "The community's support and the day-to-day dedication of our caregivers and staff have made possible this prestigious recognition from U.S. News and World Report."